Foreign Free Trade Zones Proposed In Assembly

[Ayatollahgondola]

I'd like to see a "foreign free" trade zone alright; But where you place the quotes is important here, and this bill aims them for Foreign "Free Trade" Zone.

Here you have the same people who say immigration is a federal responsibility, writing a bill that will work with the feds on immigration matters. Duplicitous you say? Really!?? from the California assembly??...Do tell.. Now the question is; will the same republicans left in the house and senate point this out, or jump into it with both feet?

And they corrected a few things here in relation to capitol letters for "state", changing "State" to "state". When it's capitolized, it is a proper noun as our state should be; in lower case, it could mean anything

BILL NUMBER: AB 1137 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member V. Manuel Pérez

FEBRUARY 18, 2011

An act to amend Section 6300 of, to add Chapter 4.2 (commencing
with Section 6315) and Chapter 4.3 (commencing with Section 6317) to
Division 7 of Title 1 of, the Government Code, relating to economic
development.



LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1137, as introduced, V. Manuel Pérez. Economic development:
foreign trade.
Existing law authorizes any public corporation, as defined, and
specified private corporations to apply for the privilege of
establishing, operating, and maintaining a foreign-trade zone in
accordance with specified provisions of federal law, and authorizes
any public or private corporation whose application is granted
pursuant to those provisions of federal law to establish, operate,
and maintain the foreign trade zone, subject to specified conditions
and restrictions.
This bill would require these provisions of existing law to be
known, and would authorize them to be cited as, the Foreign Free
Trade Zone Act.
This bill would establish the California Foreign Investment
Program, require the Secretary of Business, Transportation and
Housing to serve as the lead state entity under specified provisions
of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, and require the
secretary to set the terms and conditions for issuing a state
designation letter within the structure and scope of those provisions
of federal law.
This bill would also establish the California Export Gap Financing
Program, and authorize the secretary to apply for and receive
federal funding for the implementation of a state and federal export
financing program. The bill would require the secretary, upon receipt
of moneys pursuant to that application, to implement a program that
meets specified conditions. The bill would require the secretary to
report on the program, as specified, and to annually post on the
agency's Internet Web site a summary of the programs, annual
activities, and key achievements, and a summary of the information
related to the requirements of the program. The bill would authorize
the secretary to adopt regulations to implement the program, as
specified.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. Section 6300 of the Government Code is amended to read:

6300. As (a) This
chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Foreign Free Trade
Zone Act.
(b) As used in this chapter,
"public corporation" means the State state
, any political subdivision thereof, any incorporated
municipality therein, any public agency of the State
state , of any political subdivision thereof, or
of any municipality therein, or any corporate municipal
instrumentality of this State state or
of this State state and one or more
other States states .
SEC. 2. Chapter 4.2 (commencing with Section 6315) is added to
Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, to read:
CHAPTER 4.2. CALIFORNIA FOREIGN INVESTMENT PROGRAM


6315. (a) This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the
California Foreign Investment Program.
(b) (1) As used in this chapter, "public corporation" means the
state, any political subdivision thereof, any incorporated
municipality therein, any public agency of the state, of any
political subdivision thereof, or of any municipality therein, or any
corporate municipal instrumentality of this state or of this state
and one or more other states.
(2) As used in this chapter, "Immigration and Nationality Act"
means Section 203(b)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. Sec. 1153(b)(5)).
6315.1. (a) The Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing
shall serve as the lead state entity under the Immigration and
Nationality Act. The secretary shall set the terms and conditions for
issuing a state designation letter within the structure and scope of
the Immigration and Nationality Act.
(b) Any public or private corporation may apply for the privilege
of establishing, operating, and maintaining a regional center in
accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act.
(c) Any application for designation as a regional center shall be
accompanied by a letter of support from the secretary attesting to
the legal status of the applicant and that the applicant has agreed
to the reporting and monitoring terms of the Business, Transportation
and Housing Agency.
(d) The secretary shall not sign any designation letter without
the applicant first entering into an agreement with the agency to
meet the agency's reporting and monitoring requirements.
(e) The secretary shall post on the agency's Internet Web site a
list with contact information for each regional center applicant that
receives a designation letter from the secretary.
6315.2. (a) Any public or private corporation authorized by this
chapter to apply to establish, operate, and maintain a regional
center whose application is granted pursuant to the terms of the
Immigration and Nationality Act may establish, operate, and maintain
the regional center subject to the conditions and restrictions of the
Immigration and Nationality Act, and any amendments thereto, and any
conditions and restrictions established by the secretary pursuant to
this chapter.
(b) If authorized to establish, operate, and maintain a regional
center, a public corporation may, in addition to its other powers, do
either of the following:
(1) Provide for indemnity or assurance to the federal government
or its agencies as they may request.
(2) Deposit moneys with the federal government, as the federal
government or its agencies may request, provided those moneys are
available by direct appropriation or otherwise.
SEC. 3. Chapter 4.3 (commencing with Section 6317) is added to
Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, to read:
CHAPTER 4.3. CALIFORNIA EXPORT GAP FINANCING PROGRAM


6317. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the
California Export Gap Financing Program.
6317.1. (a) The Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing
may apply for and receive federal funding for the implementation of
a state and federal export financing program. Upon receipt of any
moneys pursuant to this application, the secretary shall cause to be
implemented a program that meets the conditions of the federal
program and all of the following conditions:
(1) Development of the program shall include local governments,
economic development organizations, trade organizations, financial
institutions, small business organizations, the federal Small
Business Administration, the federal Rural Development initiatives
administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, and
financial and community intermediaries that are engaged or could be
engaged in trade development.
(2) Among other elements, the program shall also include all of
the following:
(A) A clear statement of the program's objectives.
(B) A method for establishing a baseline and measurement of
whether the objective was achieved on an annual basis.
(C) Reporting requirements for assisted businesses consistent with
the program's objectives.
(D) An identification of related state programs that would add
value to the overall program if implemented in a collaborative
fashion.
(E) A method for ensuring program resources are available to all
areas of the state.
(3) In reporting on the program, the secretary shall address, but
not be limited to, the number of businesses assisted, the size of
those businesses by number of employees and gross revenues, the
number of jobs created and retained, and an estimate of the economic
impact of the financial assistance.
(b) The secretary shall annually post on the Business,
Transportation and Housing Agency's Internet Web site a summary of
the programs, annual activities, and key achievements, and a summary
of the information related to the requirements of subdivision (a).
(c) If the federal requirements prohibit any of the requirements
of this act, the secretary shall notify the relevant policy and
fiscal committees of the Legislature about the federal programmatic
limitation. The secretary may waive any of the requirements of
paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) if the secretary determines doing so
is necessary to fulfill federal requirements for the implementation
of the export financing program.
(d) The secretary may adopt regulations to implement the
provisions of this chapter. The secretary may adopt emergency
regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter if necessary
to meet the time lines established by the federal government.